A House on Chase Street, A Century in the Making
On a quiet stretch of Chase Street in Gary, Indiana, Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church has been gathering for worship for a hundred years. The church marked its 100th anniversary with a milestone banquet that friends and family filled with gratitude, laughter, and reflections on a century of God's faithfulness. The celebration also looked forward, because the life of Pilgrim Rest today is as busy as any Sunday morning.
The church's motto, set across the top of its pages, is simple and direct: "Jesus is Lord whether you believe it or not." Its mission follows that same plain-spoken tone. "Our mission is to guide people of all backgrounds into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ," the church states. Every ministry, schedule, and sermon at Pilgrim Rest grows from that single purpose.
The Pastor and a Pulpit Passed Down
The pastor of Pilgrim Rest is Rev. Charles E. Adams, Jr., the church's youngest elected pastor and the son of its former shepherd. He was called to the gospel ministry in 1977 at the age of 13, under the leadership of Rev. C. E. Ward, Jr. at New Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Gary. He received his license to preach in 1981, was ordained by his father, Rev. Charles E. Adams, Sr., at Pilgrim Rest in 1984, and was elected the church's pastor in 1990 following his father's passing. He earned a Bachelor of Theology from Indiana Christian Bible College.
Pastor Adams is married to Kimbley Adams, who directs the church's Christian Education Department. The couple has one son, Charles Adams III. The pastor's fingerprints reach well beyond Chase Street. He is an active member of the National Baptist Convention and serves as President of the Indiana State Congress. He has served as Past Moderator and Past Dean of the Indiana Brotherhood Missionary Baptist District Association, Past First Vice President of the Indiana State Convention, Past Secretary of the General Missionary Baptist Congress of Christian Education for the State of Indiana, and Past President of the Fellowship Council of Baptist Ministers.
His signature passage sits beneath his name: "For the Lord is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory. No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly." (Psalms 84:11).
Sundays of Worship, Tuesdays and Wednesdays of Study
The rhythm of the week at Pilgrim Rest centers on three gatherings.
Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. opens the day with classes for all ages, giving families a place to study the Bible together before the worship hour. Rev. André B. Adams serves as Sunday School Superintendent, and the program is a fixture of the church's family life.
Sunday Worship at 11 a.m. is the heart of the week, when the congregation gathers for preaching, prayer, and praise. Services follow a traditional Missionary Baptist pattern, shaped by the gospel music of the choir and the expository preaching that Pastor Adams is known for.
Tuesday Prayer Meeting and Bible Study at 10 a.m. carries the work of the week into a smaller circle. The same gathering is held again on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. Both studies are open to anyone who wants to call in by phone (dial 848-777-1212 and enter Access ID 3430492), a thoughtful option for shut-ins, travelers, and friends who live far from Gary.
A Family of Ministries
Where many congregations divide into a few programs, Pilgrim Rest divides into many. More than fifteen distinct teams have their own leader and purpose.
Children and young people are at the center of the life of the church. The Sunday School meets every Sunday morning, and the Youth Empowerment Ministry, led by Evangelist Cynthia Gee and Sis. Aniya Flournoy, walks alongside teenagers throughout the year. Young Adults, led by Sis. Dione Johnson, keeps a generation of working-age members connected. A Scholarship Ministry, led by Sis. Donna Brown, helps young people pursue education beyond high school. The church also runs a yearly Vacation Bible School-style program and a S.W.A.T. - Soul Winning Action Team for outreach.
For adults, the Women's Fellowship, led by Sis. Jessica Cook, and the Men's Fellowship, led by Bro. Marcus Hunter, offer parallel communities for growing in faith. The Mother's Ministry under Mother Theresa Grisby gathers mothers for fellowship and encouragement. The Choir Ministry, led by Sis. Ronisha Gee, provides the music for worship. The Ushers' Ministry, led by Sis. Tiffany Hunter, welcomes and seats the congregation. The Media Ministry, led by Bro. Nacei Henderson and Sis. Valerie Carr, runs sound and video for services and broadcasts.
Two specialized groups complete the picture. The Nurse's Ministry, led by Sis. Jean Samuels, offers health and wellness support. The Pastor's Aide Ministry, led by Sis. Tara Henderson, supports the pastor and his family. The church also supports a Mission Ministry for outside work and a Christian Education Department under Sis. Kimbley Adams for ongoing learning.
The Road to Salvation
Pilgrim Rest describes salvation plainly: "Christ did not come to complicate your life. Here is His simple plan." The plan moves through four steps:
- Recognize His love: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
- Accept: Trust Him with your life and make Him ruler of your ways.
- Believe: Believe in Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection for our sins.
- Confess: "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9).
Anyone exploring these questions can email Pastor Adams directly at pastoradams@pilgrimrestmb.org. The church also fields prayer requests through its online form.
Sermons Online, In Person, and On Demand
Pilgrim Rest's sermon archive is large and active. Recent messages include "Who Are You Over Looking" (Matthew 25:41-45), "Zero Failure" (Joshua 21:43-45), "We Are All Here" (Acts 16:25-28), "God Is" (Psalm 23), and "Father Who Cares" (Matthew 6:31-32), all preached by Pastor Adams, plus messages from Rev. André B. Adams, Elder Albert Reed Jr., and visiting preachers such as Pastor Obie Lyons of New Bethel MBC in Gary and Reverend Roosevelt Dixon.
Services and full sermons are posted on the church's YouTube channel, which serves as the livestream home for those who cannot attend in person. Recordings of recent services go back several years, and the audio is the standard part of each Sunday's rhythm.
Reaching Beyond Chase Street
Pilgrim Rest calls its outreach work the work of representing Christ in the wider city. "When we go out we represent Christ," Pastor Adams preached on Matthew 25:41-45. "When you help the poor you are lending to the Lord." Ongoing ministry events include "T-Shirt" Ministry Day at Marquette Park Pavilion, when ministry teams gather to fellowship in the Gary park system. Other events include the church's participation in the annual Simultaneous Revival, a long-standing Missionary Baptist tradition.
The church also maintains an In Memoriam section for members who have gone on, a Shop for branded items, a Gallery of photos, and a Sunday School hub with classes for every age.
Planning a First Visit
Visitors are welcomed warmly. Sunday mornings begin with Sunday School at 9:30 a.m., followed by worship at 11 a.m. The church's "I'm New Here" section invites first-time guests to share their contact information so the church can prepare for their visit. Mid-week visitors can join the Tuesday 10 a.m. or Wednesday 7 p.m. Bible study, or call in from anywhere using the conference number above. Prayer needs can be shared through the online prayer request form, and a small gallery offers a look at the church's life.
Online giving is available through Pushpay, with options for a one-time or recurring gift. General inquiries can be sent to hello@pilgrimrestmb.org.
A Church with Room at the Table
A century on, Pilgrim Rest still talks like a neighborhood church and preaches like a Missionary Baptist one. The choir sings, the Bible is opened, the Bible is studied, and the table is wide. "The church is a place for ALL people," Pastor Adams said on Matthew 25:41-45. That welcome, repeated for one hundred years on Chase Street, is what Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church still offers today.